Toronto District School Board
Finance Department
E-mail: belltimes@tdsb.on.ca
Dear
Parents/Guardians at Owen PS,
Last June, Toronto District School Board Trustees approved
an operating budget plan for the 2019-20 school year that required $67.8
million in staff reductions and changes to programs/services to address
provincial government funding reductions and the TDSB’s annual structural
deficit.
One of the changes approved last year was to stagger school
start and end times at a number of elementary schools starting September 2020.
Staggering school start and end times allows us to plan bus routes more
efficiently, which is projected to save the TDSB approximately $2.5 million
dollars. This is important as the TDSB currently spends more on student
transportation than we receive from the government. We anticipate that these
changes will also result in improvements to our transportation services.
As of September 2020, the start and end times of your
school will change to:
Start time (morning bell): 9:10 a.m.
End time (afternoon bell): 3:40 p.m.
Please note that supervision will continue to be provided 15
minutes before the morning bell and 15 minutes after the afternoon bell.
We understand that this may be a change to your family’s
routine. However, if we did not reduce transportation costs by staggering
school start and end times, we would have to reduce other services and supports
to students that would have more direct and negative impact on classroom
teaching.
Beyond the cost savings of adjusting bell times to find
efficiencies in student transportation, other benefits include:
Improving service to remaining routes, as fewer bus
drivers will be needed, which will help address the ongoing bus driver
shortage;
Ensuring that we maintain transportation services for all
students currently being bussed (no service reductions) and maintain other
important supports and services for all students; and,
Removing approximately 55 busses from transportation
routes, thereby reducing the board’s carbon footprint by approximately 2,750
metric tonnes per year.
Public Meetings and Webinars
We will be holding in-person
and online information meetings to answer questions and provide any additional
information parents/guardians may need in order to assist with this transition.
In-person Information Meetings:
Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. at Richview CI (1738 Islington Ave., Etobicoke)
Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m.
at David and Mary Thomson CI (125 Brockley Dr., Scarborough)
Child-minding and
interpretation services will be available upon request for the in-person
meetings. Please email belltimes@tdsb.on.ca to request these services.
Virtual Information Meetings –
Online Webchat:
Thursday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Thursday, March 26 from 7
p.m. to 8 p.m.
Please visit www.tdsb.on.ca at
the dates and times listed above to connect to the Virtual Information Meeting
(online webchat).
While we understand that these
changes may impact some families more than others, we are hopeful that everyone
will understand that changing school start and end times will help prevent
further cuts to programs and supports for students.
Please visit
www.tdsb.on.ca/belltimes for more information about the changes. If you have
any questions, please email belltimes@tdsb.on.ca or speak with your school
Principal.
Sincerely,
Craig Snider
Executive
Officer, Finance
_________________________________
Please check the Lost and Found
- in the front hallway in front of the gym
- in the kindergarten hallway
Please see if your child is missing any items. Clothing will be packed on the Friday before the March Break and will be donated for others to use.
_________________________________
Windfields Cancellation of After
Grade 5 Night
We just wanted to let you know that as a result of the continued sanctions we will have to postpone our after grade 5 night again. At this point we will wait to see but we will still have the orientation week for our feeder schools between April 27th and May 1st.
Join us for the Parents as Partners Conference on Saturday, March 28, 2020!
This all-inclusive conference is organized by TDSB parents for TDSB parents, guardians and caregivers. Participate in workshops, network with parents and community agencies and learn new strategies to support your child’s success. https://www.parentsaspartners.ca/
Who:
ALL parents/guardians/caregivers of TDSB students are invited and welcome to attend.
What:
Parents as Partners Conference 2020 is a FREE conference. Whether your child is just beginning on their educational journey in elementary school or closer to graduation and planning for the future, there are informative and empowering sessions for parents/guardians/caregivers of students of all ages and stages of education.
Where:
Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Rd, Etobicoke, Ontario
Why:
The Parents as Partners Conference 2020 is planned by parents, for parents and we are so pleased to be able to offer a selection of sessions that cover a broad range of topics to provide parents with useful information and resources to help your child improve their achievement and well-being at school and at home.
Hot Lunch Program - Highlights for March 2020
Back by popular demand:
· Spaghetti with Meatballs in tomato sauce (other versions available online)
· Tuna Sandwich on a whole wheat kaiser
_________________________________
Cultural Heritage Month Display
Thank you to our families who have created the amazing displays in our main hallway to showcase the traditions and celebrations of our families. Currently on display is an African Heritage display and Chinese New Year.
______________________________
Club Schedule
*Due to the current job action clubs and teams are on hold.
Thank you to our families who have created the amazing displays in our main hallway to showcase the traditions and celebrations of our families. Currently on display is an African Heritage display and Chinese New Year.
Club Schedule
*Due to the current job action clubs and teams are on hold.
______________________________
*Due to the current job action clubs and teams are on hold.
Please click here for the latest updates and newsletters.
TDSB Days of Significance
Feb 2020
|
1
|
Imbolc
|
Wicca/Pagan
|
African Heritage Month
|
3
|
Setsubun
|
Buddhism - Shinto
|
Chinese Heritage Month
See Also Asian Heritage (May)
|
6
|
Bob Marley Day
|
Jamaican Canadian Association
|
Black Queering Month
|
6
|
International Day of Zero Tolerance on Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation
|
World Health Organization
|
10-14
|
Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Week
|
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
| |
15
|
Buddha’s Death – (Nirvana Day)
|
Buddhism – Various Sects
| |
15
|
Meeting of Our Lord
|
Christianity - Russian Orthodox
| |
17
|
Family Day
|
Ontario Government
| |
20
|
World Day of Social Justice
|
United Nations
| |
21
|
International Mother Language Day
|
United Nations
| |
21
|
Maha Shivaratri
|
Hinduism
| |
25-27
|
Losar New Year
|
Buddhism - Tibetan, Nepal, Bhutan
| |
26
|
Ash Wednesday (1st Day of Lent)
|
Christianity
| |
Feb 26-29
|
Ayyám-i-Há
|
Baha’i
|
March 2020
|
2
|
Clean Monday
|
Christianity – Eastern Orthodox
|
Greek Heritage Month
|
8
|
International Women’s and United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace
|
United Nations
|
9-10
|
Holi*
|
Hinduism
| |
10-12
|
Holla Mohalla
|
Sikhism
| |
10
|
Purim*
|
Judaism
| |
12
|
Kuan Yin Birthday (Guan Yin)
|
Buddhism - Taiwanese
| |
13
|
L. Ron Hubbard’s Birthday
|
Church of Scientology
| |
14
|
Sikh New Year
|
Sikhism
| |
20
|
Ohigan (Spring Equinox)
|
Japanese National Holiday
| |
21
|
International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination
|
United Nations
| |
20
|
Ostara (Spring Equinox)
|
Wicca/Pagan
| |
20
|
Persian New Year (Eid-e-Navroz)
|
Baha’i/Zoroastrian
| |
21-22
|
Persian New Year (National Holiday)
|
Iranian Government
| |
22
|
Isra’a Wal Miraj*
|
Islam
| |
22
|
World Water Day
|
United Nations
| |
24
|
Saka New Year (Nyepi)
|
Hinduism
| |
25
|
Feast of the Annunciation
|
Christianity – Eastern Orthodox and Western
| |
21 April
|
Mid Sha’ban*
|
Islam
| |
Sikh Heritage Month
|
25
|
Ugandi (New Year)
|
Hinduism
|
26
|
Prophet Asho Zartosht’s Birthday
|
Zoroastrian
|
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